Following by Car
Following hounds by car is an art, calling for extreme patience, with almost a sixth sense if you are to be in the right spot at the right time. Here is some advice to get you off to a good start.
• The most important thing to remember when following by car is to be
discrete and hear without being heard.
• Switch off your engine as soon as you stop. Foot followers depend so much
on hearing, that a running car can be a great nuisance to other followers. Exhaust fumes will also mask scent.
• Park on one side of the road only.
• Assist Hunt Officials by opening and closing gates for them.
• Do not obstruct mounted Hunt staff and followers.
• Avoid parking on mown grass verges, and if you find you have by mistake,
be extra careful not to wheel-spin when you move off.
• Avoid causing an obstruction to other road users, parking in gateways,
driveways or junctions.
• Do not leave public highways and drive on private land or tracks unless
express permission is given.
Terminology & Hunting Phrases
Autumn Hunting |
The early part of hunting from August until the Opening Meet on or about the last Saturday in October |
Cap |
A daily charge for non-subscribers |
"Car Please" |
Is shouted to tell the Field to keep to the left to let cars through on the road. |
Cast |
When the hounds are looking for the line. The huntsman may cast the hounds towards where he thinks the hounds will pick it up. |
Check |
When the hounds lose the line. |
Couples |
Hounds are counted in couples. i.e. one hound, a couple, a couple and a half, two couples, etc. Couples are also two collars linked on a chain and can be seen hanging on the hunt staffs' saddles |
Feather |
Hounds are said to feather or be feathering when they have the line but are unable to speak to it. |
Field |
The mounted followers. |
Field Master |
The person in charge of leading and controlling the Field. |
"Gate Please" |
Shouted backwards on going through a gate which should be closed. |
Gate shutter |
A person specially designated to shut gates and mend fences. Sometimes wears a white armband. |
"Good Morning" |
The appropriate greeting at the meet. |
"Good Night" |
The appropriate salutation for the end of the day even if it was an Autumn Hunting morning which ended before midday. |
Harrier |
A hound that was originally bred for hunting Hares |
Heel |
Hounds are said to be hunting heel when they hunt the reverse |
"Hold Hard" |
Shouted by the Field Master to stop the field. |
Hound |
All scent hunting dogs are referred to as hounds |
Huntsman |
The man who hunts the hounds. There is only one huntsman on the hunting field per day, he may also be a Master, and he has right of way at all times. |
Hunt |
A hunting day usually consists several hunts, each hunt varying in length, sometimes incorrectly referred to as "runs" or "lines". |
Hunt Button & Collar |
Subscribers who, over a period of time, have gained knowledge and been helpful to the hunt may be awarded the hunt button and collars of the hunt. |
Hunting the clean boot |
The process of hunting human runners with no artificial scent applied. |
Hunt Staff |
The people responsible for working the hounds. i.e. Huntsman and Whippers-in. They may be Masters, amateurs or professionals |
“Keep in Please” |
A signal given to members of the field when riders must keep in to the verge or off the crop. |
"Kick on" |
You may get this response when you make way for someone at a gate or jump. It means you don't have to wait for him/her and should carry on. Or it may be just general encouragement |
Line |
The scent left by the trail. |
"Loose Horse" |
Shouted when someone has fallen off and the horse is running away. |
Master |
Maybe a Joint Master. These are the people responsible for the running of the hunt. They should have right of way at all times second only to the hunt staff. |
"Master/Huntsman/ |
This means give way to these people as they have a job to do. If it is heard on a road or a track everyone should get to one side, not line both sides, to reduce the chances of them being kicked. |
"Master/Huntsman/ |
This means the Master/Whip/Hound should be let through on the side shouted. The side corresponding to the direction of travel of the majority of the Field. |
Mixed Pack |
A pack consisting of dogs and bitches |
Opening Meet |
The start of formal hunting. |
Puppy |
A hound which is new to hunting that season. It will appear fully grown. |
Rat Catcher |
Term used to describe the official dress for mounted followers during Autumn Hunting and consists of a Tweed jacket as opposed to a black jacket. Rat Catcher is also an acceptable form of dress after the Opening Meet, but it won’t keep out the cold and wet in the winter. |
Riot or rioting |
When hounds hunt something other than that which they are supposed to be hunting, they are rioting. In the case of bloodhounds hunting the clean boot / Trail hunting, all wildlife is known as riot. |
Scent |
The smell, indiscernible to the human nose, left by the runners. The hounds also use the smell of the disturbed ground where the runners have been to stay on the line. |
Speak or speaking |
Hounds do not bark, they speak or are speaking when they are "on the line" (hunting a scent). |
Stern |
A hound's tail. |
Walk |
Hounds at walk, often known as Puppy Walking, is where whelps are sent to private homes, in minimums of two's, from the age of eight weeks until they get too big and boisterous for the walkers, at which point they return to kennels to learn how to fit in to the pack. |
"Ware Hole/Wire/Glass" |
Ware is often pronounced "War" and means beware. Therefore if you hear "War Hole", or "Ware Hole" it actually means mind out there is a hole in the ground coming up! Similarly any other hazard. |
Whelp |
A new born hound is a whelp and remains so until it come back from walk. |
Whipper-in |
The person who helps the huntsman control the hounds. This person has right of way at all times and will only give way to the Huntsman. |
